Intervention from Armenia Regarding Oganyan's Case: 'Hraparak'

'Hraparak' newspaper reports that Major General Samvel Karapetyan, known as Oganyan, the former deputy commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, has been arrested. The Artsakh Prosecutor's Office announced that he had fired shots at a car containing a group of young people. Our sources claim that a dispute occurred between the general and the youths before the gunfire. Oganyan attempted to park the vehicle in front of the building of the 'Union of Artsakh Freedom Fighters' NGO, which he leads, and asked the young people to move their car aside as they had blocked the entrance.

A quarrel ensued, and Karapetyan fired shots, with bullets striking the asphalt and the door of the car. A criminal case has been opened under Article 269, Part 4 (hooliganism committed with the use of a weapon) and Article 245, Part 1 (illegal weapon possession).

The Prosecutor's Office initially reported the arrest of a citizen of Artsakh, S.K., but did not confirm the news about Oganyan's arrest for a significant time, stating in private conversations that the situation could change in the coming hours. Everyone in Artsakh knows that Oganyan played a significant role during the election of Arayik Harutyunyan and is close to former presidents of Artsakh. Additionally, he is a hero of the Artsakh war, and his arrest, especially with no victims involved, is likely to cause another scandal and be interpreted as political persecution against the heroes of Artsakh.

However, our sources indicate that pressures are being exerted on the law enforcement and authorities in Artsakh from Armenia, and that Oganyan's arrest is linked to this. Recently, Oganyan has appeared publicly several times with Serzh Sargsyan and participated in a torchlight procession, and was later seen at France Square. If individuals who have harmed people with firearms, such as the son of Melikset Poghosyan and the brother of Khachatur Sukiasyan, as well as a police officer who fatally injured a pregnant woman, can remain free, then it is difficult not to label the arrest of a general who damaged a car door as political persecution.

Further details can be found in today's issue of the newspaper.